Friday, January 13, 2017

Dance your way to better health By Elizabeth Richards

Winter
can be tough in Maine. With frigid temperatures outside it’s easy to hole up in
the house, reading a good book or binge watching Netflix. This can lead to
lethargy and the “winter blahs.” The best way to keep the blues at bay is to
get plenty of exercise, but if you aren’t a cold weather enthusiast finding
interesting indoor options can be a challenge.

Dancing
could be the perfect solution. Dancing can be a solo activity or one you share
with a partner. There are many forms of dance, which makes it more likely that you’ll
be able to find a style you enjoy. Whether heading out to a nightclub to move
your body free style, signing up for a class, or finding a more formal ballroom
setting to enjoy with a partner, dancing just might be the perfect “pick-me-up”
for a cold winter evening.

One
great thing about dancing is that it doesn’t often feel like as much work as
some forms of exercise. Debra Roy, owner of Maine Ballroom Dance in Portland,
said, “The word exercise makes me not want to do something – like going to the
gym. But dancing, when it’s structured like ballroom dance, is great exercise
where you don’t even know you’re exercising.”Dancing uses different muscles than you would be likely to use working
at the gym, on an elliptical or other cardio machine, she added.

Dancing
uses your whole body, including your brain, Roy said. “Dancing involves more
than one person. It is two people communicating nonverbally. You have to think
in order to be able to do that.”This
means you are exercising not only your body, but your brain as well. Roy noted
that recent studies have shown that dance, especially tango, can improve balance
and strength in people with neurological disorders including Parkinson’s
disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Not
only does ballroom dance get you moving but it’s a great way to spend quality
time with your friends or a partner. In our electronic age, it can be tough to
focus in on the person you are with, but when you are partner dancing you
simply have no choice. If you aren’t paying attention to your partner’s cues,
you won’t be able to get around the dance floor. It’s a lesson in patience,
understanding, and communication along with a great way to raise your heart
rate. Partner dancing is one of the best activities for reconnecting.

There
are so many styles of dance that it’s easy to find one that fits your style. Not
into Tango?Try Swing. Don’t like the
slow stuff? Go for Salsa or Samba. It’s all great exercise, and great fun. And
if you don’t have a partner and don’t relish the idea of hitting a ballroom
class alone, try something like line dancing, tap or jazz for adults.

There
are different types of dancers as well, said Roy. Social dancers just want to
learn a few steps and get out there and have fun. Competitive dancers, or those
interested in taking medal tests to assess their skill level, will work hard at
the technique that makes their dancing better. “Dancing isn’t as easy as it
looks if it’s done with correct technique,” she said.

So
where can you go to get started?If you
are looking to dance on your own, no partner needed, there are a couple of
options right in Windham and Raymond.

Windham/Raymond
Adult Education is a great place to start. Currently, there are three sessions
of line dancing among their enrichment offerings.